National Grid staff to be balloted on strike which could cause mass blackouts

Up to 700 National Grid workers will be balloted for strike action in a move which could cause mass power cuts across the country in the New Year.

Unite union will ballot its members in the transmission department of National Grid – which covers substations and overhead lines – concerning changes to the terms and conditions of new starters and pay settlements for 2009.

Michael Tuff, Unite regional officer, said: “We are disappointed that we have been put in a position of having to ballot for industrial action, but a very profitable company will not sit down and hold serious discussions regarding the terms and conditions.”